[Rattlehead]

Like most umpries in my association I play on a team as well an umpire game in leagues I don't play in.

I played in a semi final game on Sat USSSA Slowpitch that was so poorly worked that I just barley hold my comments on how bad it was called.

I know that this is a HTBT but here a list

Batting Out of the Box.

I counted 4 players all right field hitters stepping on or infront of the plate while making contact with the ball. After seeing it the first time I asked the umpire to keep an eye on it, and his reply was "I don't have time to take my eye off the ball to check for that".

Leaving Early on Tag Play.

Fly ball to right with 1 out and man on third. This umpire was up the first base line(halfway) 10 foot off the line toward the pitchers plate.

I asked how is he able to verify that the runner didn't leave early with his back turned to the runner. He didn't dignify me with an answer on this question.

Close Call at first.

On a 4-3 FC Play F3 bobled ball got control of ball just as the runner got there, this could have been either way but the Umpire didn't sell it.
The call was made with a meager safe call.

I told him that if he had sold that call with a little bit of vigor, he wouldn't have gotten as much crap from the stands as he did. He said that he dosn't like to do that because some players think it's showboating by the umpire.

All in all, this guy was bad, I did let him know this after the game away from any other players, that he really needs to work on his mechanics. And that you have to take your eyes of the ball sometimes to check things like stepping on the plate, or making contact with the ball of out of the box. Sometimes you need to umpire with a bit of vigor.